Plug button or closure



May 15, 1951 P. D. BECKER PLUG BUTTON OR CLOSURE Filed Nov. 17, 1948 Fig.4.

INVENTOR. PHmP D. BzcmzR BY 3 Q ATTORNEY.

Patented May 15, 1951 PLUG BUTTON R CLOSURE Philip D. Becker, Hingham, Mass, assignor to United-Carr Fastener Corporation, Cambridge, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application November 17, 1948, Serial No. 60,497

9 Claims. ('01. 220-430) The present invention relates to plug buttons and like closures for apertured members, for example apertured metal supports, and aims generally to improve the construction of existing plug buttons and like closures.

A primary object of the invention is the provision of an improved plug button adapted to be positioned in an apertured support and which will have an improved looking or gripping action with a wall of a support aperture.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved plug button adapted for attachment to supports of varying thickness.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an improved plug button that may be readily manufactured to fit an opening of predetermined size and which will substantially resist forces tending to distort it from its initial size and shape, such as may be encountered in shipment and handling.

The above and other objects of the invention will be apparent to persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates from a consideration of the accompanying drawings and annexed specification, illustrating and describing a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a plug button as applied to an apertured support;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the plug button ;I,

shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a plug button embodying the invention as taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. l; and I Fig. 4 is an enlarged bottom plan view of the plug button shown in Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, the improved plug button is preferably of two-part construction comprising an attaching or fastener part II] and a cap member which may be a closure part overlying the attaching member.

The attaching or fastener part I0 comprises an annulus II, preferably of one-piece and continuous construction, and provided with a circular series of spaced radially-extending support-engaging tongues I2 projecting radially outwardly from the outer peripheral edge of the annulus. The annulus I I is further provided with a circular series of radially and outwardly extending connecting arms I3, preferably arranged intermediate the tongues I2, each of which terminates in segmental strips I4 adapted collectively to form a cap-carrying annulus disposed in a plane spaced from the annulus II. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the segments I4 are disposed in a common plane,

therein illustrated as horizontal, but are angularly disposed with reference to the downwardly and inwardly inclined arms I3, so that the arms may extend within the aperture 5 of the support 6. and the segments I4 will overlie the marginal edge of the support 6 surrounding the aperture 5.

The annulus II and support-engaging tongues I 2 are preferably disposed obliquely to the planes of the segments I4 and arms I3 so that the annulus defines an inwardly tapering entering nose for the attaching member. The support-engaging tongues thus present sharp support-engaging contact edges I200 disposed in a plane outwardly of the annulus -I I. This provides for secure edgebiting engagement between the tongues I2 and the wall of the aperture 5, and the thickness of the support 6 may vary considerably as will beapparent, by comparing the supports illustrated. at the right and left hand sides of Fig. 3.

The segments I4, providing the cap-supporting: annulus, are preferably of sufficient length as to have abutting edges I5 to resist displacement of the segments radially inwardly during the cap or closure-attaching operations. These abutting segments I4 thus present a complete annulus of predetermined size and shape and an undistort able support for the cap or closure 20. I

The cap or closure 20 may be of any suitable sheet material, for example, sheet metal or sheet plastic, having a central body portion 2|, herein illustrated as arched or dome shaped, and a peripheral marginal edge portion crimped or clenched, as at 22, over and around the outer peripheral edges of the annulus formed by the segments I4. The body portion 2| may be of any desired form such as a screen or a lamp bulb lens or glass.

From the above it will be seen that the attachit ing or fastening member I0 may be readily blanked and stamped as of single piece construction from a body of suitable resilient sheet material, for example sheet metal. The cap or closure 20 may then be applied to the preformed attaching member in a second operation, as will be understood in the art.

It will be apparent that the relatively stiff tongues l 2 extend toward the cap from their supconnecting said annular means, a circumferential. series of support-engaging tongues on said first named supporting means and extending there from angularly toward said second named supporting means, and a cap overlyi'ngand securedfizo'" said second named supporting means. I

2. A plug button or closure adapted for attachment to an apertured support;.comprisingan alt taching member having axially spacedannular.

tongue-supporting and,cap-supportingmeans, a

circumferential series of -straight strips integrally connecting said annul 'ar means a ci-r'cunrf ere'ntial series-ofsupport engag-ing tonguesconnected to ancl extending-radially outwardly from said first named-tsupportingmeans and extending 'therefrom angularly toward said second named supporting meansand acap' overlying and secured to said second named supporting means.

3s A plug butto'n orclosure adapted for attachment't'oan apertured support, comprising an attacking member" having axially spaced annular tongue-supportingmeans" and cap-supporting means-, 'acircumferential series. of straight strips integrally connecting said annular means, a circumferentialseriesofshort stiff straight supportengagingtongues extending radially and outward ly-f-rom said first-named supporting means and extending therefrom angularly towardsaid second named= supporting.means,- and a cap overlying andlsecured to said second named supper-ting means.

4t A plug but-ton orclosure adapted for attachment te-an-aper-tured support; comprising an attachingmember having axially spaced annular tongue-supporting" meansandcap support'ing means, a'circumferential series of straight strips integrally-- connecting-said annular means; a circurnferential seriesnf shoiiirstiff straight suppor't engaging; tongues extending radially and outwardly from said first named supporting means and-extending therefi'cm* angula'rly toward Mid second named supporting means; and acap overlying' andsecured-to saidsecond-named supporting means,- said tongues having sharp terminal support-engaging edges. 7

A- plug-button or closureadapted'=foi"at'tach'= 4 ment to an apertured support, comprising a continuous annular member, circumferentially spaced struts extending angularly from said member, a segmental portion extending laterally in opposite directions from an outer end of each of said struts; said segmental portions being adapted collectively to form a substantially annular cap-supporting member, a capsecured to and overlying said cap-supporting member, and

support-engaging fastener members secured to said first named annular member.

61- A plug' button or closure as defined in claim 5 characterized in that the segmental portions liave a'butti-ng. end edges to restrain movement of said segments and struts.

'7. A plug button or closure as defined in claim 5 characterized in that the support-engaging fastener members extend obliquely from the continuous annular member toward the cap-supporting. member. 4 I

s; A lugbutton'or'jclosure asdefined'in' claim 5 characterized" in that the support-engaging fastenefni'emb'ers" extend obiiqueiy from the continuous annular member to'viardtlie cap-supporting member, and are provided at theirterminal ends withmelativ'ely'shoit support-gripping edges.

9? Ai plug button or closure" adapted rorattacnl'lle'n't to. all apertured Support comprising" a continuousannular member" ad'apt'ecltoenter a support aperture, circumferen'tially"spaced arnis' extendingangiilarly frorn'sa'id member; outwardly turned fiarig'edportions'at the ends of said arms adapted" cc'ill'ectively' to" f'orr'r'i" a cap-supporting rz'rernber';.a' capsecuredto' and overlying s (rea supporting' member; and a plurality of circumferentially spaced support engag'ing fastener members integrally securedto said' annular memberr and extending angularly outward therefrom tbwardsaiu' cap-supportingmember.

PI-IHJIP D'. BECKER.

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